One is definitely reminded that Sunday is a day of rest in Geneva. Almost nothing is open, not even the hotel restaurant. And today was raining so that cut out everything to do, except if you wanted to go make your own watch in the watch capital of the world. But that would run us 350-3500 CHF (swiss francs - in the event you wondered why CH is the abbreviation for Switzerland, here is why:
According to the International Organization for Standardization, “CH”,
Switzerland’s country code, stands for “Confoederatio Helvetica”. This is Latin for
Helvetic Confederation“. And that has something to do with it's neutrality position.
One thing I can say for Geneva Switzerland is that it is the most clothing-diverse city I've ever seen. It simply doesn't matter what one wears (contrary to what I read after a google search). Since I'm one who wears skirts all the time, in America it's weird, in Italy it's weird, in Geneva, I'm not the only one. The only thing I did not see here was leggings.
We took a bus to St. Claire Church for Mass. Yes, this is the church. Not pretty.
We got there very early so we prayed in the little chapel for 45 minutes, nice time for a Rosary and nap with Our Lord. Still not pretty, but He was there, so that is enough.
This is the church, not pretty, but had some redeeming qualities, crucifix of St. Francis. An icon of the Blessed Mother and Child. And most of all the Traditional Latin Mass, which is, of course, our preference.
The Mass was celebrated by the Fraternal Society of St. Peter (FSSP) and of course, beautiful. One nice tidbit is they are working hard to teach the congregation how to sing chant. They have special books and even alternate cantor with congregation (and I think a couple others in the choir loft). It was very nicely done. And I enjoyed singing along to Chant Mass I and Credo III. The only disappointing part is that we could not understand the homily which was all in French. I understood a few words but that was it, not even enough to put together a meaning. It was Pentecost Sunday.
Then we started our journey back. Got on the 15 bus to the train station. Since I forgot Tom's belt... (ahem again) we found a shop that sold belts. Have you ever bought a belt for $30? Me neither. But that was the cheap belt. Geneva is expensive, however, we have managed to live on the cheap. Since we really like Kebabs, that helps. We did not eat out at any expensive places though we considered going out for fondue, since this is home of fondue (and chocolate). But since it would be about $40/person we decided we will just make some at home and pretend we are still in Switzerland.
Unfortunately in the purchase of a much needed belt, we got disoriented inside the train station and went the wrong direction to the bus. We ended up at the wrong end then tried to carefully back track to find the Orange 1 block for the number 1 bus which ends up right in front of our hotel. We ended up at the very back of the train station which was a post office. By then it was well after 1 in the afternoon and we still had not eaten so we camped out at the post office and ate the sandwiches we had gotten inside the train station. That helped to get some nutrition in us. So we continued our, approximately 3 mile trek to go a whole 1/2 mile. Good grief. And of course, it was raining the entire time. Thankfully we had taken an umbrella from the hotel lobby.
After googling a while for what to do in the rain on a Sunday afternoon in Geneva, of which there is precious little to do, I got in a good long nap. We ate our remaining chocolate. I was moaning the fact we had not gotten more to bring home (as if it would have lasted), but apparently much is closed tomorrow for "Whit Monday". So alas, when I arose from the dead, we ate the remaining chocolate (doggone it was good!). Tomorrow morning we leave early for Milan, Italy. I was fretting we'd never find our train so went to the lobby to ask about it and he was very helpful. So we'll get there very early and find our train.... hopefully. I've enjoyed Geneva though if we go to Switzerland again, I'd like to take in Zurich, Lucerne and the more Catholic part of Switzerland. Above is the rainy view out our hotel room.
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